Regulator.



PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

w. WADSWORTH. REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 9, 1904.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

warren Arne PATENT FFICE.

WILLARD VVADS WORTH, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM B.VVADSVVORTH, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed December 9, 1904:. Serial No. 236,113.

My invention relates to lmprovements in regulators, and particularly toimprovements in thermostatic regulators of the type employed forhot-water regulation.

My invention consists in certain novel details of construction andcombination of parts, as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will describe anembodiment thereof, with reference to accompanying drawings,illustrating same, and will then point out the novel feature in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in central longitudinal sectionthrough a regulator embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is an end view ofsame. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The device comprises a casing 1, to which is attached one end of a tube2. A rod 3- is arranged within the tube and is secured thereto at theouter end 4: thereof. The connection is a rigid one, unyieldinglyconnecting the rod and tube together at this end; but the said rod andtube are composed of. materials having different coefficients ofexpansion and are permitted relative longitudinal expansion andcontraction whereby their inner ends or the ends opposite to the rigidconnection 1 may move with relation to each other.

A valve 5 is arranged at the free end of the rod 3 and is fitted to avalve-seat 6, arranged in a plug 7. The plug 7 is cylindrical in formand is mounted in a cylindrical bore 8 in the casing 1, being fittedthereto with a sliding fit. The plug 7 is provided with an abutment 9,conveniently formed by securing a collar thereon, which abutment engagesa stationary portion or shoulder 11 of the casing 1 on one side thereofand is engaged'by a compressionspring 10 on the other side. Thecompressionspring 10 bears at its other end against a portion stationarywith the casing, as shown. The action of the spring 10 will then forcethe plug toward the rod 3 until limited by the engagement of the collar9 with the shoulder 11.,

The plug 7 is preferably made hollow, and a spring 12, lighter than thespring 10, is fitted in the said hollow portion and bears against theinner end of the stem of the valve 5, tending to lift same from itsseat.

The valve 5 and its seat are arranged within a chamber 13, inclosed bythe casing 1, and a connection 1 1, leading from a source offluid-pressure supply, (not shown,) connects with the said chamberthrough a passage 15. Another connection 16, arranged directly oppositethe connection 15, connects, through a passage 17 and port 18 within theinterior of the said plug, to the inner or discharge side of the valveand its seat. The said plug is suitably packed at opposite ends, as bypacking-boxes 19 and 20, which prevent leakage of motive fluid from thechamber 13 to the connection 16 or from the connection 16 to theatmosphere. The collar 9 is preferably held against turning in thecasing, being preferably constructed otherwise than cylindrical in itsouter contour and fitted to a correspondingly-shaped recess in thecasing, or is splined to the casing, as shown in Fig. 3, or otherwiseprevented from turning therein, whereby the relationship ofthe'valve-seat to the valve may be adjusted by merely turning the plug.For this purpose the outer end of the plug is squared, as at 20, for thereception of a key or other turning device, and by this means accurateadjustment may be readily obtained to adjust the apparatus to work atvarying temperatures, as may be desired. A pointer 21 may convenientlybe secured to the plug and suitable marks denoted on the casing toindicate the adjustment of the device.

In operation the device is suitably arranged with the thermostaticmembers immersed in the fluid intended to be regulated, which may,

for instance, be water. The connection 1 1 will be connected with asupply of fluid-pressure and the connection 16 with an operating devicefor controlling the heat of the fluid in which the thermostat isimmersed, as aforesaid. The plug and valve-seat carried thereby will beadjusted so that the thermostat will operate at the desired temperature.When the-temperature falls below this point, the greater contraction ofthe tube with respect to the bar 3 will cause the valve to be presseddown to its seat against the resistance of the light spring 12. Thiswill prevent motive fluid passing valve-seat 14: to the connection 16,and the operating device (not shown) Will be relieved of fluid-pressureand will be caused in any well-known manner to admit heat to raise thetemperature of the fluid regulated. As the temperature of the fluid inwhich the thermostat is immersed rises above the predetermined point theparts will move relatively in an opposite direction, the valve 5 beinglifted from its seat by spring 12 as the tube 2 expands and draws therod 3 in a direction away from the seat 6. The fluid under pressure willthen be admitted through the connection 14:, past the face of the valve,through the port 18 and passage 17 to the connection 16, and thence tothe heat-controller, so as to close admission of heat. Should thetemperature of the fluid in which the thermostat is immersed fallconsiderably below the point at which the device is set for closing thevalve, further relative contraction between the thermostatic memberswill force the plug outward against the resistance of the strong spring10, and this spring therefore acts as a relief-spring to prevent injuryto the parts under abnormal changes of temperature. The spring 10 beingmuch heavier than the spring 12, the former will only act after thevalve has been firmly pressed uponits seat, as willbe Well understood,and the valve-plug will be positively forced back to its normal positionbefore the valve is permitted to lift from its seat.

What 1 claim is 1. In a regulator, the combination with a casinginclosing a chamber, a tube carried by said casing a bar mounted in saidtube and unyieldingly connected thereto at its outer end,

said tube and bar composed of materials having different coeflicients ofexpansion, of a plug yieldingly mounted in said casing and passing fromthe exterior thereof to the interior thereof into the said chamber, saidplug provided at its inner end with a valve-seat,

packing means therefor, at the exterior and interior of said casing, anda valve fitted to said valve-seat and engaging said thermostatic bar,said casing provided with inlet and outlet passages, the former asupply-passage leading to the chamber at the interior of said casing andthe latter leading through the plug to an outlet connectionsubstantially set forth.

2. In a regulator, the combination with a thermostatically-controlledvalve, of a plug having a valve-seat to which said valve is'fitted,'a'relief-spring for said plug whereby WILLARD WADSWORTH.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH I. WADSWORTH, D. HOWARD HAYWOOD.

